Depth study 1

Who introduced the penal laws and when did he do this

1695 - William the third

What was the protestant ascendancy

members of the Anglican Church who dominated Irish politics

What penal law was passed in 1704 

prevented catholics from buying/renting land for more than 31 years 

What percentage of land did protestants own in 1904

95%

Who tried to extend the limit of catholic rent and ownership and what year did this happen

Luke Gardiner proposed an extension to 999 years but this received significant criticism

What was the oath of allegiance and what year was this

in 1774 a bill was passed that allowed catholic and protestant sects outside of the established church to declare their loyalty to the king

Why did the British pass the oath of allegiance

a sympathetic response to catholic nationalism

Why did the oath of allegiance benefit the catholics

portrayed them in a more positive light which proved useful in later reforms

Why did Britain pass the first catholic relief act

external threats including the American war of independence in 1775 and France declaring war on Britain in 1778

What was the first catholic relief act

Luke Gardiner’s Bill to enable catholics to lease and own land for up to 999 years was passed in 1778 

Why did the first catholic relief act benefit the catholic 

catholics could now own land long term and also pass on land to their heirs enabling them to maintain power over generations 

How many catholics were expected to join the army following the first catholic relief act

10,000

Why did Britain pass the second catholic relief act

to isolate the Irish volunteers

What was the second catholic relief act

granted catholics the right to buy land as long as it wasn’t in parliamentary boroughs and removed restrictions against education and the catholic clergy

Who were the Irish volunteers

military organisation established in 1778 by rural middle class protestants to defend Ireland against potential French invasion

How many people did the Irish volunteers consist of by 1782

60,000

Why did giving catholics more freedom seem plausible following the first 2 catholic relief acts 

catholics had not posed any threat to security and catholic resentment was still high (eg: Gordon riots)

What were the Gordon riots 

Provoked by a resentment for the catholic relief acts, the riots in 1780 left 700 dead and Newgate prison on fire 

What year was the French Revolution

1789

What was the 3rd catholic relief act and what year was this

1792 allowed catholics to practice law

How did the French consolidate their revolution

declared themselves a republic and executed king Louis in 1793

Which organisation pressed for the 3rd catholic relief act

the catholic committee

How did the catholic committee provoke the 4th catholic relief act

held an all catholic convention in 1792 which worried William Pitt and pressed him to allow catholics the right to cote and hold military posts

What bill did Grattan propose that would grant catholics emancipation 

emancipation was granted but with a government veto on church appointments (the crown could block nominations)

How successful was Henry Grattan’s proposed bill

it was rejected by an overwelming majority overwhelming

What organisation was created following Grattan’s failed bill and what was the nature of it 

The catholic board - representative base calling for emancipation without veto 

Who was the leader of the catholic board

Daniel O’Connell an Irish barrister

Why were internal disputes created within the catholic board

A similar bill to the one in 1808 was proposed - aristocrats were willing to accept the bill however Daniel rejected it

What was the result of the internal disputes within the catholic board

led to its dissolution in June 1814

What organisation was created after the disillusionment of the catholic board

the catholic association

What aspect of the catholic association was responsible for its success

members had to pay a subscription of one penny a month known as catholic rent, it raised 1000 a week

Why was the first catholic association banned

rapid growth posed a threat, new association created with a less fiery rhetoric

Why did the county Clare election take place

Fitzgerald was selected as president of the board of trade creating a by-election 

Who was Fitzgerald 

MP for 10 years, landlord with a good reputation

Why couldn’t catholics sit in parliament

they were required to take the oath of supremacy to do so which catholics could not do because it juxtaposed their allegiance to the sea of Rome

What statistic shows the extent O’connell won the vote

2057-982 votes

Who made up the majority of O’Connells votes

small and predominately catholic farmers

What did O’Connells win lead to

catholic emancipation in 1829

Why did O’Connell have to be re elected

the oath of supremacy still stood in his way, he was required to be re elected to sit in the House of Commons 

Why did wellington push further emancipation

Lord Liverpool died in 1827 and they had difficulties finding a new leader leading to vulnerability, ignoring emancipation could cause rebellion worsening the problem

How did the tories convince the King to grant further emancipation

Used the Whig party and liberal tories to push the bill, wellington also threatened to resign

What further emancipation was granted in 1829

Roman Catholic relief act : catholics could sit as MP’s in Westminster and most public offices

What cost did the Roman Catholic relief act come at

the parlimetrary elections act 1929 increasing the qualification for voting from 40 shillings to 10 pounds

What was the impact of the parlimentary elections act 1929

voters fell from 200,000 to 40,000

What was the navigations act 

passed in 1651 stopping the use of foreign ships by colonies for trade with one another

What was the wool act

passed in 1699 limiting the amount of wool Ireland could produce

How did the American war worsen Irish trade

embargo were placed across Irish goods exported to America and France eg: between 1772 and 1780 the market for Irish beef declined by 40%

Who were the most prominent figures pushing for free trade

Henry Flood and Grattan

How did the Irish volunteers initially campaign for free trade

policed a boycott of British goods, publishing transgressors names in newspapers

How did the Irish volunteers campaign in a more violent manner

paraded in full military regalia outside of parliament calling for a short money bill 

Why was the Irish volunteers campaign for free trade so effective

Britain was at war with France and America and Ireland had limited military defences because many troops were serving abroad

What was the impact of the Irish volunteers parade

short money bill was passed immediately after because the Lord lieutenant needed money for running costs 

When were trade restrictions lifted in Ireland

1780 Ireland could trade with other parts of the empire on the condition that they set duties equal to those in force in Britain 

How did the Irish volunteers call for greater legislative rights 

250 delegate convention 1781 

Why did Whig administration award Ireland greater legislative rights

Lord lieutenant expressed concerns and American war was going badly

What was the constitution of 1782

adjusted poynings law and repealed the declaratory act granting Ireland autonomy over its domestic legislation

Why did Irelands economy not improve after the repeal of trade restrictions

the war with America France and Sprain reduced trade opportunities

Why did the woollen industry in particular not improve after the repeal of trade restrictions 

British goods still dominated in the Irish market - could not impose tariffs as Britain could stop trade completely or retaliate 

Why did Irish economy slowly improve after the repeal of trade restrictions

interest rates were lowered causing the cost of borrowing to fall from 6-5% encouraging investment + ending of war caused trade prosperity